SPORT 30 THE WEEKEND NEOS KOSMOS | SATURDAY 29 AUGUST 2015 Greece wins bronze at World Championships Pole-vaulter Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou captures first medal since 2007 Greek pole-vaulter Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou won the bronze medal at the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing on Wednesday. Kyriakopoulou cleared 4.80 metres for third place. Cuba's Yarisley Silva took the gold with a vault of 4.90 metres. Fabiana Murer of Brazil won the silver. Kyriakopoulou's medal was the 21st in Greece's history at the world athletics championships. The last time the country won a medal at the tournament was in 2007. Source: Kathimerini DIGITAL.NEOSKOSMOS.COM Antonis, Ikonomidis named in Olyroos squad Vidmar names 10 A-League players and six Socceroos for qualifiers against Turkey and FYROM Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou celebrates after winning bronze. PHOTO: EPA/DIEGO AZUBEL. underway for Navarino Challenge in Greece The award-winning athletics event runs September 11-13 in Messinia and Costa Navarino. Preparations Olyroos coach Aurelio Vidmar has named a bolstered squad ahead of two matches against Turkey U21 and FYROM U21 in September. The matches scheduled in Istanbul and Skopje are in preparation for January's Olympic Games qualifiers and the AFC U23 Championships in Doha next year. "These two matches against quality strong opposition are an important part of our preparations leading into next January," Vidmar said. "It will be a difficult challenge for us, with the players in the squad at various stages of preparation ranging from being in season, in pre-season or in some cases uncontracted, but we are confident that these issues will be resolved by October. "There are a number of new faces included as well and this will be their chance to see if they can fit into the playing group. "There are only a limited number of opportunities left for the players to claim a place in the final squad before we head to Doha in January and these matches will be a critical part of that process. Present will be recent PAOK FC signing Terry Antonis, who made the switch from Sydney FC in the off-season, and Chris Ikonomidis, who is about to embark on his first full-season on Serie A club SS Lazio's senior list. The matches will feature on 4 September against Turkey U21, and September 7 against FYROM U21. Squad: Jack Duncan (Randers FC, Denmark), Jason Geria (Melbourne Victory FC), Giancarlo Gallifuoco (Swansea FC, England), James Donachie (Brisbane Roar FC), Milos Degenek (1860 Munich, Germany), Joshua Brillante (Empoli, Italy), Andrew Hoole (Sydney FC), Ryan Edwards (uncontracted), Jamie Maclaren (Brisbane Roar FC), Mustafa Amini (Randers FC, Denmark), Connor Pain (Melbourne Victory FC), John Hall (Adelaide United FC), Brandon Borrello (Brisbane Roar FC), Terry Antonis (PAOK FC, Greece), Scott Galloway (Melbourne Victory FC), Steven Ugarkovic (NK Osijek, Croatia), Daniel De Silva (Roda JC Kerkrade, Netherlands), Paul Izzo (Central Coast Mariners FC), Cameron Burgess (Fulham FC, England), Riley Woodcock (Sydney FC), Chris Ikonomidis (SS Lazio, Italy), Adam Taggart (Fulham FC, England), Brad Smith (uncontracted). Source: SBS/FFA Chris Ikonomidis on national duty with the Socceroos in June. PHOTO: AAP IMAGE/FOOTBALL FEDERATION AUSTRALIA. APOEL falls short in Champions League bid Open Water World Champion swimmer Kelly Araouzou will participate in this year’s Navarino Challenge. PHOTO: ELIAS LEFAS. Kazakh outfit scores late goal to send Cypriot side crashing out of competition Ultramarathon athlete Dean Karnazes participating in the Navarino Challenge Run in 2013. PHOTO: VLADIMIR RYS. Cypriot side APOEL has bowed out of Champions League qualification following a heartbreaking loss to Kazakh side FC Astana in Nicosia. APOEL went into the game one-nil down on aggregate after the first leg in Kazakhstan last week, and found the back of the net on the hour mark courtesy of Semir Stilic. Despite controlling most of the play, the Cypriot side couldn't hold on with FC Astana's Nemanja Maksimovic scoring an equaliser could not capitalise. As a result, Astana has made history by becoming the first Kazakh side to make the Champions League group stage. APOEL’s Semir Stilic (R) celebrates with his teammates after scoring against FC Astana. PHOTO: AP PHOTO/PETROS KARADJIAS. in the 84th minute - where the scores would remain - to send the local side crashing out of the competition. APOEL finished the game with a whopping 65 per cent possession, 13 scoring attempts (to seven), 10 corners (to two) and over 300 more passes than its opponent but In other results throughout the week, Socceroos goalkeeper Mat Ryan will feature in his first Champions League tournament after his side Valencia defeated Monaco 4-3 on aggregate, but national side teammate Tom Rogic's side Celtic bowed out on a 4-3 aggregate against Malmo, whilst English star Wayne Rooney ensured his side Manchester United qualified for the group stage, with a hat-trick in that side's second leg clash against Club Brugge.